Rabbi Stephen Wise has now become the Rabbi of our congregation. He is excited to be part of a congregation
as diverse, storied and unique as SBE; leading meaningful worship experiences for all, teaching thought
provoking courses for adults and children, providing inspiring programming and being a catalyst for social activism.
Before joining SBE, Rabbi Wise spent two years as the assistant Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, FL.
Rabbi Wise was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May of 2005.
Rabbi Wise was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up at Holy Blossom Temple, spending his summers at the
Young Judea sponsored Camp Shalom. He majored in History at the University of Toronto and received a
Masters in Jewish Communal Service with a focus in Jewish education at the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University.
Following graduation from Brandeis, he served for two years as the full-time Youth Educator at Temple Shir Tikvah
in Wayland, MA and then spent a year in Israel to begin his rabbinic studies, continuing his studies at the
NYC campus of HUC.
Rabbi Wise has focused much of his rabbinate in striving passionately to connect Jews of all ages to their Judaism.
Whether its through prayer services, learning or social action, each presents a gateway to stronger Jewish identity.
Rabbi Wise has worked recently developing programming for young adults in their 20-30's, starting ongoing successful groups in NYC and Florida, reigniting their connections to Judaism.
Stephen's wife is Cheryl. Cheryl is our Director of Education. She was most recently the Director
of Education at Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs FL. They have a son, and two daughters.
During March 2009, Rabbi Wise returned from a Rabbinical Convention in Israel. He thought it would meaningful to put
his thoughts into words for the congregation, and decided to start a
blog at http://www.hockeyplayingrabbi.blogspot.com
You may Email her.
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Leadership and Administration
Rabbi Stephen Wise
welcomes you in a video.
He also plays hockey.
Rabbi Wise's sermons are best experienced live. However, you may read them for your self.
A couple give a very personal insight into Rabbi Wise.
Husband & wife team lead Oakville synagogue, as of July 1, 2009.
Aviva Chernick
Cantorial Soloist
Aviva is delighted to be able to serve the Shaarei-Beth El Congregation in voice and spirit for select Shabbatot, chagim and for Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days).
She is a guest prayer leader and teacher with other congregations in Toronto. She co-leads Shabbat Fusion, the last Friday of every month at
Holy Blossom Temple and serving at the First Narayever for specific
prayers during festivals.
Aviva has also been a guest Soloist at Congregation Beit Haverim in Atlanta,
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan and
Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, sharing in the leading of Friday Night Live with Craig Taubman and Rabbi David Wolpe.
She is committed to offering music for prayer that invites congregants to participate in voice and to be moved to a deeper relationship with the community,
self and the Divine.
Aviva is composing new music for prayer. (Samples will be linked from here.)
When not leading prayer, Aviva is: creating, recording and touring with the Juno Nominated Ensemble
Jaffa Road;
studying Balkan Judeo - Spanish music with her mentor Flory Jagoda and
teaching combined Hatha Yoga and voice classes through her own studio, RISE YOGA.
www.avivachernick.com
www.myspace.com/avivachernick
www.riseyoga.ca
Director of Education
For Cheryl, Jewish education has always been a very important part of her life.
She was born, raised, and educated in Toronto, Canada.
Cheryl attended both a Jewish Day and Jewish High School and attended Young Judea summer camps as a camper,
councillor and unit head. She received her bachelor's degree in Jewish studies from York University in Toronto
and then moved to Boston where she received both a Master's degree in Jewish Education as well as a certificate in
Family Education from Hebrew College.
While in school, Cheryl taught students in every age group in a variety of different educational settings.
Upon graduating Cheryl accepted a position at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA as their first full time Family Educator.
In June 2000, Cheryl moved to Israel for the year where her husband Stephen began his first year of rabbinical
studies at HUC (Hebrew Union College). Cheryl worked for Hillel at Hebrew University in Jerusalem as the
educational coordinator for the Birthright Israel program.
In 2001 Cheryl became the assistant principal at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Manhattan where she focused on developing
family programs for all age groups and a comprehensive youth program for elementary, middle, and high school students.
In 2003 Cheryl became the Director of Education at Temple Shaaray Tefila where she oversaw a school of over 700 students
and 85 teachers.
In 2005, Cheryl moved to Boca Raton Florida where she directed the Religious School at Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs.
Cheryl is RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) certified and has written curriculum for the URJ as well as for other nationally
recognized Jewish organizations. Cheryl currently works part time at McMaster University developing on-line courses
for the Ontario Midwifery Education Program.
Cheryl lives in Oakville with her husband, [our Rabbi Wise] and 3 children.
You may visit the school website .
You may email Cheryl Wise wise at . You may also phone her, [905] 849-6000 ext. 15.
Ingrid Cooper
Office Administrator
Ingrid Cooper was born and raised in Toronto, the daughter of Dutch immigrants who left the Netherlands [Holland] after WWII. Ingrid earned a BA Degree in Business Administration in the US. After graduation, she settled back in the Toronto area where she married her husband, whom she brought back from the US. She had various experiences working full-time in retail, head office, customer service, and logistics for two major companies over 15 years.
Ingrid and her family moved to the Vancouver area in 2002 due to her husband's work. She took a number of part-time roles, with her most recent being the Executive Director for the BC Window and Door Manufacturers Association, where she was in charge of office management, meetings, arranging venues, managing all association finances, handling member email and phone communications and other activities.
Ingrid and her family moved back to Ontario due to her husband's employment, and so they chose to settle back in the pretty town of Oakville. Ingrid and her husband Todd and daughter Stephanie, in Grade 10, reside in Oakville; currently their eldest daughter attends Calvin College in Michigan. For fun, Ingrid enjoys hiking, weight-lifting, scrapbooking, playing piano, singing, reading and travelling.
Ingrid is excited to be working at Shaarei-Beth El. She looks forward to meeting more congregants and encourages people to drop by to visit her or give her a phone call [905) 849-6000 ext. 10] during office hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 - 1:00. You may email Ingrid Cooper at
Bosko [Bobbi] and Marija [Maria] Cvetanovi
Caretakers
Bosko [Bobbi] and Marija [Maria] Cvetanovi,
our caretakers.
They can be contacted through our office at
Steve Taylor
President
You may email our president at our_president@sbe.ca.